PRESS BRIEFING ON THE 35TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, AANI HELD ON SATURDAY MARCH 7TH, 2015 AT NIPSS KURU, JOS AND THE STATE OF THE NATION
INTRODUCTION
The 35TH Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Alumni Association of the National Institute, AANI held at the auditorium of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos on Saturday 7th of March, 2015.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
The 35th Annual General Meeting (AGM) reviewed the Association’s activities in the past year and set the agenda for the future.
The AGM featured a welcome address by the President of AANI, Major General Lawrence Onoja, mni, Annual Report by Secretary General, Comrade Issa Aremu, NPOM, mni and the Report of Accounts of the previous year. Other activities at the 35th AGM include Appointment of Auditors and fixing of remuneration as well as adoption of proposed AANI anthem. Members adopted and debated the reports with reaffirmation of votes of confidence in the leadership. Secretary General and Auditors’ reports were accordingly accepted.
LAUNCHING OF AANI’S QUARTERLY MAGAZINE AND FIRST ANNUAL CALENDAR
Other key highlights of the AGM were the launching of the maiden AANI Magazine, AANI Calendar as well as election of new national officers.
ELECTION OF NEW NATIONAL EXECUTIVES
The President of the Association Maj. General (Rtd) Lawrence A. Onoja, CFR, Ph.D, mni was duly re-elected for second term in office in a contested election conducted by the returning officers chaired by the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Engineer Boboye Oyeyemi, MFR, mni. Major General Onoja was overwhelmingly re-elected with majority votes of members for second two-year term.
Others duly elected unopposed are;
- Dr. Garba Usman Tetengi, Ph.D, SAN, mni, Vice President;
- Comrade Issa Aremu, Bsc, MA, mni, Secretary General;
- Nghargru Maryam Patricia mni, Assistant Secretary General;
- Mrs. Comfort Olu Eyitayo, CFA, FCA, mni, Treasurer;
- Hon. Sola Ephraim-Oluwanuga, LLM, BL, MA, FCI Arb (UK), mni, Legal Adviser;
- Dr. Pat Emembolu Eze, MON, PhD, mni, Welfare/Social Secretary;
- Alhaji Abbas Bello, FCA, mni, Financial Secretary;
- Air Cdr Clement Ogbeche, mni, Internal Auditor;
- Juliana Mafuril, Ph.D, mni, Publicity Secretary;
LESSON
The transparency, acceptability and openness of the election once again shows that AANI is promoting the culture of internal democracy and advancing the country’s democratic process.
AANI in line with its motto; ‘Towards a Better Society ‘ reaffirms its commitment to work towards a better society.
STATE OF THE NATION
2015 GENERAL ELECTION
AANI foresees hope for Nigerians not political doom. The Association therefore calls on all Nigerians to consolidate on the existing democratic gains and minimize democratic losses through zero level tolerance for rigging and violence.
AANI commends INEC and urges it to sit up and ensure credible, free and fair elections. AANI also calls on all Nigerians to cooperate with INEC for success in the coming elections.
SALUTES THE GALANTRY OF NIGERIAN MILITARY
AANI acknowledges the remarkable success being recorded by the Nigerian Military in the renewed war against insurgency in parts of the country.
It commends in particular the recapture of major towns in the North eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States by the Nigerian Military and the gallantry of the Nigerian troops.
AANI commends President Goodluck Jonathan for the renewed commitment in the war against insurgency with his recent visit to some recaptured areas and the reassurance that the military would soon recapture other Nigerian territories controlled by the violent sect in no distant time.
It therefore calls on all Nigerians to support the determination of the Federal government and the Nigerian Military to end insurgency in the country. Security in the North East is security for the entire Republic of Nigeria.
AANI says the library of the answer to security problem in Nigeria lies in National Institute and research studies of distinguished Members of the National Institute. It therefore advises government at all levels to make use of the abundant human resources developed by the National Institute.
NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC)
All Comrades should work for unity. AANI is concerned about the development within the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
NLC has produced distinguished members of the National Institute which included Gov. Adams Oshomhole, mni and the Secretary-General of AANI.
AANI calls on all the comrades to mutually resolve their differences for the overall interest of the working people of Nigeria. A united democratic NLC is good for a democratic Nigeria
AANI hereby congratulates Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel, mni (SEC 35) as an unopposed elected National Treasurer of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
AANI MOURNS THE EXIT OF Mr. Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) the Founding Prime Minister of Singapore
AANI commiserates with the government and good people of Singapore on the death of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, the Founding Prime Minister of Singapore widely respected as the architect of Singapore’s prosperity and a strong advocate of development.
It is remarkable the way late Mr. Lee Kuan Yew transformed a non-oil producing country like Singapore from a 3rd World country to a developed country.
The lesson here is that leaders who served their country very well and delivered prosperity to their people are usually celebrated while alive and mourned when they die. But leaders who delivered poverty to their people are hardly remembered even when they are alive.
ATTENDANCE
More than 200 members of the National Institute (mnis) made up of serving and past top level executives from the banking and financial sector, the presidency, states and local governments, civil service, Armed Forces, academia, labour and para-military institutions among others attended the historic 35th Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The President of the Association, Maj. General (Rtd) Lawrence A. Onoja, CFR, Ph.D, mni presided over the meeting with Secretary-General Comrade Issa Aremu, NPOM, mni and other members of the AANI national executive committee.
Former Presidents of the Association namely Engineer Jani Ibrahim, mni and Engineer M.G. Umar, mni as well as former Secretary General, John Odah, mni were also in attendance.
SPECIAL GUESTS
Distinguished guests at the opening ceremony included the Director General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Professor Tijjani Mohammed Bande, OFR represented by Mr. Jonathan Mela, mni. His Eminence Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of AANI Heritage Council, ably represented by former President of the Association, Engineer M.G. Umar, Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Engineer Boboye Oyeyemi, MFR, mni and the President of AANDEC, Admiral (RTD) A.G. Adedeji, fwc ably represented by Major General E. Mathias, fwc.
GOODWILL MESSAGES
Goodwill messages were received from the Director General NIPSS, Professor Tijjani Mohammed Bande, OFR, His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto and the President of the Alumni Association of National Defense College (AANDEC) among others. Guests commended AANI’s new visibility in national discourse and saluted AANI’s leadership for representing AANI.
Towards A Better Society.
Maj. General (Rtd) Lawrence A. Onoja, CFR, Ph.D, mni
PRESIDENT
Issa Aremu, NPOM, mni
SECRETARY-GENERAL
